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The AMZCHEF Slow Juicer ZM1501 is a highly regarded juicing appliance known for its efficiency, versatility, and user-friendly features.
In this ZM1501 review, I will explore various aspects of the popular juicer; including its design, performance, ease of use, cleaning process, and overall value for money. You will have a comprehensive understanding of what the AMZCHEF Masticating Juicer offers and whether it suits your juicing needs.
REVIEW OF THE AMZCHEF SLOW JUICER ZM1501
Amzchef invited me to try out their ZM1501 model of slow/masticating juicer and share my honest opinion with my readers. I was excited to receive the red juicer (to match my red kitchen) and try it out making a variety of fruit and vegetable juices.
Now that I have done the tests and gained extensive experience with the juicer, let's have a closer look at the design, performance, ease of cleaning, price comparison, and my final conclusion.
DESIGN AND FEATURES
The AMZCHEF Slow Juicer boasts a sleek, modern design that fits well in contemporary kitchens. It is constructed from high-quality materials, giving it durability and longevity.
The compact design is a plus for those with limited counter space, measuring approximately 14.2 x 7.3 x 11.5 inches.
The juicer is available in several colors, allowing it to blend seamlessly with various kitchen decors. I chose crimson to match my red kitchen backsplash tiles. Other color options include: ivory and pure white, light blue, sun orange, tea green, iron black, light grey, and rose red.
On first opening, the 14 different parts included seemed a little overwhelming. However, after I gave all the pieces a wash in soapy warm water, I followed the 9 steps of assembly from the instruction manual. It only took a couple more times of repeating the steps with the manual to become familiar enough with everything, so that now I can assemble the juicer easily in under 1 minute now.
KEY DESIGN FEATURES INCLUDE:
- Stainless Steel and BPA-Free Plastic: Ensures safety and durability.
- Quiet Motor: Unlike most centrifugal juicers, this slow juicer operates at a noise level lower than 60 dB, making it ideal for use in the morning or late at night without disturbing others.
- Non-Slip Feet: Provides stability during operation.
- Reverse Function: to loosen stuck food items
JUICING PERFORMANCE
The AMZCHEF Slow Juicer is designed to extract the maximum amount of juice from fruits and vegetables while preserving their nutrients. It operates at a slow speed of 80 RPM (revolutions per minute), which minimizes heat build-up and oxidation.
This slow juicing process helps to retain more vitamins, enzymes, and minerals and fresh-juice taste compared to high-speed juicers, which can sometimes cause the juice to have a 'cooked' flavor due to the heat they produce.
KEY PERFORMANCE FEATURES INCLUDE:
- High Juice Yield: Efficiently extracts juice, leaving behind dry pulp.
- Versatility: Can handle a wide range of produce, including leafy greens, hard vegetables, and soft fruits. However, very soft fruits like banana and mango are not recommended to be juiced with this model.
- Juice Quality: Produces juice with minimal foam and high nutrient content.
Note: the produce needs to be cut into pieces that are small enough in diameter to fit the chute opening. Furthermore, vegetables and leafy greens are recommended to be no more than 4-inches/10 cm long.
While I have seen other users cut their juicing materials quite small (under 1 inch cubes) for best extraction, I don't like to have to put so much effort into prepping before juicing. The chute diameter + 4 inch/10 cm length guideline works well for me. If needed, I use the tamper to gently push the food towards the masticating augur for extraction.
However, sometimes if I find the pulp looks like it still contains a lot of moisture (especially from watery fruits), I return the pulp strands to the chute and run them to the juicer a second time. I am not sure if this is recommended, but I always get a little extra juice this way and the pulp is very dry after that.
JUICE TESTS
There are lots of great juices you can make with the AMZchef slow juicer. From simple single-ingredient fruit or vegetable juices, to delicious flavor combinations. Here is what we have tried so far:
Apple juice:
So delicious, and especially awesome when fresh local apples are in season. There is no need to peel or core the apple. I simply slice it into quarters or eights that fit through the chute.
Carrot juice:
Our grocery store sometimes sells 'ugly' carrots for juicing at a very low price. In our experience the juicer has a bit of a hard time with round hard vegetables even if they fit the chute. Cutting the carrot pieces in half or spears allows it get a better 'grip' and pull it into the auger.
Mandarin Juice:
Mandarins are easy to peel and divide into wedges which can easily be fed into the chute without further need for cutting. The juicer quickly pulled the pieces towards the device's squeezing auger, and in no time at all it was dripping juice into the juice container and filling strands of fiber into the pulp container.
This is one of the examples where the pulp seemed still wet, so I fed it through again and got 2 more ounces of juice. Now the resulting pulp was dry.
NOTE: I highly recommend peeling any citrus fruit. Don't make the same mistake we did and run just chopped up citrus through the juicer. If you are making pure orange juice, the oils extracted from the peel will be quite noticeable giving the final juice an unpleasant bitter aftertaste.
Celery juice:
This may not the best tasting juice but some swear by its healing health benefits. In the first run the pulp looked quite wet still, so I fed it through the machine again. I ended up with some more juice and actually dry pulp now.
Apples, Cucumber, Lime:
The box includes a recipe booklet with a suggested combination of fruits and vegetables to make delicious juices. And this combination is by far our favorite by far. Green apples, fresh cucumber and a lime make such a refreshing juice that I could have every single day!
Read more: 90 RECIPES FOR THE SLOW JUICER - Enjoy A Different Juice Every Day
EASE OF USE
The AMZCHEF Slow Juicer ZM1501 is designed for ease of use, making it suitable for both beginners and experienced juicers. Its intuitive design and straightforward assembly process ensure a hassle-free juicing experience.
Key ease-of-use features include:
- Simple Assembly: Easy to assemble and disassemble, which is beneficial for both usage and cleaning.
- Reverse Function: Prevents clogging by allowing the user to reverse the direction of the auger to clear blockages.
- Wide Feed Chute: Although not as large as some competitors, it reduces the need for extensive pre-cutting of fruits and vegetables.
EASE OF CLEANING
One of the standout features of the AMZCHEF Slow Juicer is its ease of cleaning. The juicer comes with a cleaning brush that helps remove pulp from the strainer and other components. Most of the parts are dishwasher safe, which simplifies the cleaning process even further.
Key cleaning features include:
- Dishwasher-Safe Parts: Most components can be cleaned in the dishwasher, saving time and effort.
- Quick Disassembly: Parts can be easily taken apart for thorough cleaning.
- Cleaning Brush: Included for manual cleaning of more intricate parts.
PRICE COMPARISON WITH SIMILAR JUICERS
The AMZCHEF Slow Juicer offers excellent value for money, especially considering its performance and features. It is competitively priced compared to other cold press juicers on the market, making it an attractive option for budget-conscious consumers who do not want to compromise on quality.
Key value aspects include:
- Affordable Pricing: Offers high-end features at a mid-range price.
- Durability: Made with high-quality materials that ensure a long lifespan.
- Warranty: Typically comes with a standard one-year warranty, with options to extend.
PROS AND CONS OF THE AMZCHEF JUICER
Pros:
- High juice yield and nutrient retention.
- Quiet operation.
- Easy to clean with dishwasher-safe parts.
- Compact and attractive design.
- Versatile, capable of juicing a wide range of produce.
Cons:
- Smaller feed chute compared to some competitors.
- The juicing process can be slower than high-speed juicers.
- Occasional need to use the reverse function to prevent clogging.
- Not ideal for citrus juices. The need for peeling them first, makes using this juicer more effort even than manual citrus squeezers.
Read more: Review of the AMZCHEF Self-Feeding Masticating Juicer
